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Topic Review (Newest First)

10-13-2012 06:19 PM

MARTINSR

Quote:

Originally Posted by alkey

martinsr thanks for the offer of the brake cyl hone.i have both the stone type hone and the huckleberry bush type hones.this is really a neet site where you can get all sorts of information.thanks again

Cool, now git-r-dun

Brian

10-13-2012 06:19 PM

MARTINSR

Quote:

Originally Posted by E.Furgal

maybe out on that coast.. but then again, out there, the body men my dad worked with didn't know how to lead or pick and file..
todays "mcparts" as you call them.. don't stock parts to sit on the shelf for years.. nor does any dealership.. they put the investment in parts that they'll move.. it's not marketing, it's the fact of life.. your "real parts store" mostlikely didn't restock the brake parts you bought for your 59, as doing so, ties up money.. something EVERY business today has to think about, no matter if it's a mom and pop store or a big chain.. also out on that coast there tends to be alot more older cars running around, so a storefront may move more older car parts to warrant the investment in stocking SOME parts..
if you work in the autobody field, and are more than a bodyman, you know. even getting parts to repair models, the popular models can be a royal pain to track down in a timely manner.. nevermind if an odd ball rolls off the rollback into the shop..
the mc parts are here because people are cheap.. the same reason. you'll put an aftermarket hood/fender/headlight/grill/etc on a car at the body shop.. instead of factory parts it's cheaper..
same reason you'll walk into wally world.. home depot, etc the list is a mile long..
everyone wants a good wage, but doesn't want to pay for anyone else to have one.. so we have what we have.. big box stores, with help that knows the bare min. why BECAUSE NO ONE WILL want to pay for the good counter help.. cause good help doesn't come from a min wage work force.. but thats what we have because we are to cheap..

I am with you and agree completely on why the McParts stores are around. And to tell you the truth one of my personally issues with them is that they ARE chains, I boycott chains as much as possible. I VERY, VERY rarely go into the McHome stores for instance, I have a couple of REAL hardware stores near by and I do my shopping there, and a REAL lumber yard too.

Listen, we aren't that far apart, I understand and was actually surprised as heck when I was a parts counter man how about 90% of sales are brake shoes, pads,rotors, drums and oil and filters, spark plugs and wires, fan belts and water pumps on ten year old cars or newer. 90%, the rest are the odd stuff I had fun with. Heck, I don't remember selling a single actual motor part like a lifter or cam or bearing kit in the year I was there.

So for the McParts store to fill the needs of 90% of his customers, they are making money and it makes sense. It is no different than a McDonalds, they have a small menu and it is plenty for millions of customers. Me personally, want more in a meal, but I hit Micky D's too some times when an air freshener or seat cover is what I am after for lunch. The McParts store IS a valuable stop for 90% of the purchases the late model family car needs.

The store where I bought those Rambler parts from, they have a huge inventory investment and they are by leaps and bounds have the largest sales numbers of the parts stores in the area. If they don't have it, they find it with a smile on their face, they are amazing. A vendor that we buy from is good friends with the owner of the parts store and he has told me some inside stuff and the store is VERY impressive.

If you work in one of these chain stores and go out of your way for those odd things, and are a parts professional I applaud you, you are no different than what I call "REAL" parts stores. My statements are nothing personal, but very generic. I mean not harm or ill feelings.

Brian

10-13-2012 05:21 PM

alkey

wheel cyls

martinsr thanks for the offer of the brake cyl hone.i have both the stone type hone and the huckleberry bush type hones.this is really a neet site where you can get all sorts of information.thanks again

10-13-2012 01:11 PM

E.Furgal

Quote:

Originally Posted by MARTINSR

There are some Maaco (Modern day Earl Shieb) that do some amazing work, but by the ODDS you get pretty poor quality at a Maaco. There are some Kragen, Pepboys or other "McParts" stores out there that do a damn nice job, but by the ODDS they don't know squat.

If you work at a McParts store that does a good job and knows his stuff, don't get made at me for rolling you up in one big blanket with the others who know nothing. I can't give someone an address and phone number to the McParts store that happens to beat the odds that is in their neighborhood across the country from where I'm at. I can only go by the odds, those McParts stores are a joke and useless for an unusual part.

I have been in the auto repair business in one way or another for 35 years, including working behind a counter at a parts store and a factory rep visiting 77 Napa auto parts stores regularly along the California coast. Some of those were worthless as well, but by the ODDS the "Real" parts store in town is going to do a lot more for you than the McParts stores.

Here in my town we have two "real" parts stores. I am blown away at the difference between the two. But even the bad one which is very close to my home still comes up with stuff that blows me away. But the other one, holy cow, we are talking walking in there and them having the brake light switch and master cylinder and wheel cylinders for my Wagner braked 1959 Rambler ON THE SHELF! This is the same parts store I will buy parts for the three year old cars working at a collision shop everyday. It's a REAL parts store and there is a BIG difference.

When I was working at the NAPA store here in town I was blown away at the pattern, those coming in who knew nothing, those struggling with some repair on the family car in their drive way didn't even know the real parts stores existed, they spoke of going to the Kragen about a mile to the south of us and Pepboys (now closed) about two miles to the north of us. Those are the ONLY stores they mentioned, marketing is VERY powerful.
The pros, the people who repaired cars for a living ONLY mentioned the two other REAL parts stores in the area. NEVER, EVER did they mention the McParts stores! It was hilarious, I was there a very short time when this hit me, there was a very distinct pattern. The power of marketing is huge, the poor dude working on his family car has only seen the McParts stores adds and heard them on the radio. Poor buggers never even heard of the REAL parts stores because those stores don't market the same. They are out there providing the auto repair shops in the area with what they need to get EVERY car repaired so they can make a living.

The McParts stores are full of air fresheners and seat covers and oh yeah, a couple of air cleaners and spark plugs.

Brian

maybe out on that coast.. but then again, out there, the body men my dad worked with didn't know how to lead or pick and file..
todays "mcparts" as you call them.. don't stock parts to sit on the shelf for years.. nor does any dealership.. they put the investment in parts that they'll move.. it's not marketing, it's the fact of life.. your "real parts store" mostlikely didn't restock the brake parts you bought for your 59, as doing so, ties up money.. something EVERY business today has to think about, no matter if it's a mom and pop store or a big chain.. also out on that coast there tends to be alot more older cars running around, so a storefront may move more older car parts to warrant the investment in stocking SOME parts..
if you work in the autobody field, and are more than a bodyman, you know. even getting parts to repair models, the popular models can be a royal pain to track down in a timely manner.. nevermind if an odd ball rolls off the rollback into the shop..
the mc parts are here because people are cheap.. the same reason. you'll put an aftermarket hood/fender/headlight/grill/etc on a car at the body shop.. instead of factory parts it's cheaper..
same reason you'll walk into wally world.. home depot, etc the list is a mile long..
everyone wants a good wage, but doesn't want to pay for anyone else to have one.. so we have what we have.. big box stores, with help that knows the bare min. why BECAUSE NO ONE WILL want to pay for the good counter help.. cause good help doesn't come from a min wage work force.. but thats what we have because we are to cheap..

10-13-2012 10:43 AM

MARTINSR

Quote:

Originally Posted by alkey

found and ordered kits from ecklers.thanks for all the help

If you need a hone for those wheel cylinders I have a brand new one you can have. If you PM me with your address I will send it to you. Mechanical isn't my thing and I know I will never use it. I bought it for the Rambler but found that the new ones were available so I still have this hone in the package.

Brian

10-13-2012 10:36 AM

MARTINSR

Quote:

Originally Posted by E.Furgal

today parts guys know their s__t also.. we are working and talking about cars and parts that are not what parts guys deal with today..
today we can go grab an crank sensor off the shelf, without looking it up.. just like the old days they guy just picked a wire set off the shelf..
unlike the car guys of today.. that think the world revolves around them.. back in the day.. the guy with a model t didn't expect a guy from the 70's to have a clue about mechanical brakes.. nor the pontiac guy expect the guy to know what knee action shocks where.. SOME seem to forget. todays cars are NOTHING LIKE the cars hotrodders play with..
parts for our junk haven't been used on cars for 20-30 YEARS..
but you expect the 20y/o behind the counter to know what you are looking for.. or better yet, where to go looking for it..
we have a few older parts guys that are working with us.. and they are just lost ,when it comes to parts for new cars..
a guy came in looking for a coil pack ignitor, and the old parts guy was,"would you like a muffler bearing with that.. "
he had no clue.. this guy has 35 years in the part biz.. and knows '85 on back.. anything newer, he's as lost as the 20 y/o looking for points for the first time..
some(most) need to stepback and remember the parts used in the good old days are no longer parts used in todays cars.. and haven't been for a good long time.. and are not parts asked for regularly..
as far as the parts books .. try to get parts companies to send them.. good luck.. we lock ours up.. and most are 5-9 years old.. as we haven't got a newer one from them since..
I really like it when the model changes on the lift.. call and ask for parts for an impala, and then calling to b_tch because the parts don't fit the chevelle on the lift... lol
the good old days.. selective memory is more like it.

There are some Maaco (Modern day Earl Shieb) that do some amazing work, but by the ODDS you get pretty poor quality at a Maaco. There are some Kragen, Pepboys or other "McParts" stores out there that do a damn nice job, but by the ODDS they don't know squat.

If you work at a McParts store that does a good job and knows his stuff, don't get made at me for rolling you up in one big blanket with the others who know nothing. I can't give someone an address and phone number to the McParts store that happens to beat the odds that is in their neighborhood across the country from where I'm at. I can only go by the odds, those McParts stores are a joke and useless for an unusual part.

I have been in the auto repair business in one way or another for 35 years, including working behind a counter at a parts store and a factory rep visiting 77 Napa auto parts stores regularly along the California coast. Some of those were worthless as well, but by the ODDS the "Real" parts store in town is going to do a lot more for you than the McParts stores.

Here in my town we have two "real" parts stores. I am blown away at the difference between the two. But even the bad one which is very close to my home still comes up with stuff that blows me away. But the other one, holy cow, we are talking walking in there and them having the brake light switch and master cylinder and wheel cylinders for my Wagner braked 1959 Rambler ON THE SHELF! This is the same parts store I will buy parts for the three year old cars working at a collision shop everyday. It's a REAL parts store and there is a BIG difference.

When I was working at the NAPA store here in town I was blown away at the pattern, those coming in who knew nothing, those struggling with some repair on the family car in their drive way didn't even know the real parts stores existed, they spoke of going to the Kragen about a mile to the south of us and Pepboys (now closed) about two miles to the north of us. Those are the ONLY stores they mentioned, marketing is VERY powerful.
The pros, the people who repaired cars for a living ONLY mentioned the two other REAL parts stores in the area. NEVER, EVER did they mention the McParts stores! It was hilarious, I was there a very short time when this hit me, there was a very distinct pattern. The power of marketing is huge, the poor dude working on his family car has only seen the McParts stores adds and heard them on the radio. Poor buggers never even heard of the REAL parts stores because those stores don't market the same. They are out there providing the auto repair shops in the area with what they need to get EVERY car repaired so they can make a living.

The McParts stores are full of air fresheners and seat covers and oh yeah, a couple of air cleaners and spark plugs.

Brian

10-13-2012 06:04 AM

alkey

wheel cyls

found and ordered kits from ecklers.thanks for all the help

10-12-2012 03:32 PM

E.Furgal

Quote:

Originally Posted by alkey

checked parts stores today 49-50 cyls not available.i may try 51 to see if they mount the same.they would be 1/16 smaller bore size. how much braking power would i loose by going to smaller wheel cyl?

why not rebuild the ones you have?
a hone and new cups and seals..
try then and now.. for the rebuild kits.. they're cheap too

10-12-2012 03:30 PM

E.Furgal

Quote:

Originally Posted by techron

DO NOT DISS MARTINSR noob!! He has been here a long time and has contributed much more than i have. I respect him. I also agree with him, I owned and ran a corvette shop for 30 years in SF before retiring in 2000. In the old days parts guys knew their *******, we had no time to waste. they had a big rack of parts books and could give you an answer on the most obscure parts in one minute.

You kids at the kragens/ mcdonalds parts store have no clue. If you can't look it up on the computer you are lost.

Case in point--What is the starter motor# for a 1973 pantera??

today parts guys know their s__t also.. we are working and talking about cars and parts that are not what parts guys deal with today..
today we can go grab an crank sensor off the shelf, without looking it up.. just like the old days they guy just picked a wire set off the shelf..
unlike the car guys of today.. that think the world revolves around them.. back in the day.. the guy with a model t didn't expect a guy from the 70's to have a clue about mechanical brakes.. nor the pontiac guy expect the guy to know what knee action shocks where.. SOME seem to forget. todays cars are NOTHING LIKE the cars hotrodders play with..
parts for our junk haven't been used on cars for 20-30 YEARS..
but you expect the 20y/o behind the counter to know what you are looking for.. or better yet, where to go looking for it..
we have a few older parts guys that are working with us.. and they are just lost ,when it comes to parts for new cars..
a guy came in looking for a coil pack ignitor, and the old parts guy was,"would you like a muffler bearing with that.. "
he had no clue.. this guy has 35 years in the part biz.. and knows '85 on back.. anything newer, he's as lost as the 20 y/o looking for points for the first time..
some(most) need to stepback and remember the parts used in the good old days are no longer parts used in todays cars.. and haven't been for a good long time.. and are not parts asked for regularly..
as far as the parts books .. try to get parts companies to send them.. good luck.. we lock ours up.. and most are 5-9 years old.. as we haven't got a newer one from them since..
I really like it when the model changes on the lift.. call and ask for parts for an impala, and then calling to b_tch because the parts don't fit the chevelle on the lift... lol
the good old days.. selective memory is more like it.

10-12-2012 12:31 PM

seltec8

Chevy changed to the dual servo brakes in 51. All those parts (chevy thru 54, corvette thru 62) hubs, drums, backing plates etc. would be a bolt on for the older chevy. Some of those parts i.e. drums & shoes were used on later chevys but not as a complete unit. On a wheel cylinder if area goes up so does the force it exerts and on that huck style you need all the help you can get. Hope that helps.
Try The Filling Station, Ecklers, Chevys of the 40s even Speedway Motors

10-12-2012 11:07 AM

alkey

wheel cylenders

checked parts stores today 49-50 cyls not available.i may try 51 to see if they mount the same.they would be 1/16 smaller bore size. how much braking power would i loose by going to smaller wheel cyl?

10-12-2012 06:55 AM

techron

Quote:

Originally Posted by E.Furgal

hahaha, your funny,, us at advance auto parts,, you know the not a real parts store can look this stuff up also I do it, rick does it, danny does it..

maybe you're doesn't because of the attude you start off with before even walking in the place..
and/or expect an answer asap..
When we have a customer walk in or call, we ask them to call back in a hour or so.. and the regulars have no issue with that.. as they know, the meat and potato's of the parts biz. is todays cars and the shops fixing them..

DO NOT DISS MARTINSR noob!! He has been here a long time and has contributed much more than i have. I respect him. I also agree with him, I owned and ran a corvette shop for 30 years in SF before retiring in 2000. In the old days parts guys knew their *******, we had no time to waste. they had a big rack of parts books and could give you an answer on the most obscure parts in one minute.

You kids at the kragens/ mcdonalds parts store have no clue. If you can't look it up on the computer you are lost.

Case in point--What is the starter motor# for a 1973 pantera??

10-12-2012 06:32 AM

seltec8

No p/n just a application. Thats called a huck brake you might also check changing to the later (thru 54) dual servo, they would be a better brake and probably cheaper.

10-12-2012 06:15 AM

alkey

wheel cylenders

thanks for the photo seltec8 those pictured shure look like the ones on my coupe.i will check at parts store for availability.would you happen to have a part number? Thanks Again